"Little one, are you suggesting we sell this Gnosis to the Fatui in exchange for the resources Inazuma desperately needs? That's a very bold idea.
Although when Ei handed the Gnosis over to me for safekeeping, I even joked and asked her: Aren't you worried I'll turn around and sell this thing? But that was just a joke; if I were to actually sell the Gnosis, I'd be a bit reluctant."
"Yuto, you should understand the value of a Gnosis. Even if we were to sell it, we'd need to find something of comparable value, which is no easy task."
"No, it's very easy. For example, we could demand from Snezhnaya enough food, supplies, fertilizer, medicine, technology, and even talent to last Inazuma for several years. These are all resources Inazuma urgently needs and would allow Inazuma to quickly overcome its difficulties and develop rapidly."
"Only these? I thought things traded for a Gnosis should be more grand and impressive."
"You also don't look at Inazuma's current situation. If there was a gem and a bag of grain on the ground right now and I had to choose one, I'd rather choose a bag of grain. Even if a gem's value could buy a hundred bags of grain, in a situation of food shortage, a gem is just a useless trinket for nobles to amuse themselves with.
The Gnosis is the same. Since you and Yae Miko both believe this is useless and will only invite conflict, but the Fatui's "Lady" treats this thing as a treasure, why don't we make an outrageous demand and make a suitable deal?"
"But, that Fatui Lady committed such crimes against Inazuma, are we still going to cooperate with her? I find it a bit unacceptable."
"Ei, as the ruler of a nation, you can't just consider right and wrong; you also have to consider the pros and cons. One thing at a time.
However, the crimes committed by the Fatui in Inazuma are indeed too numerous to count. Letting her return to Snezhnaya so smoothly to report back would be unfair to the soldiers and civilians who suffered casualties during the Vision Hunt Decree. After the transaction is over, I'll send her off."
Yuto's words brought a trace of surprise to Raiden Ei's and Yae Miko's faces, followed by a relieved smile, and they nodded.
Subsequently, the three discussed the details of the Gnosis sale. After all, this was the first time in Teyvat's history that a Gnosis was being sold, and Snezhnaya was so wealthy. If they didn't make an outrageous demand now, when would they?
They wanted food, they wanted Mora, they wanted technology, and how could they not want talent? In short, they listed a long list of items. The contents of the list would probably leave even the Lady stunned and speechless at first glance. Is this... is this trying to sell the entire Snezhnaya to Inazuma?
A Gnosis for a human nation—could such a thing be acceptable to a god? Come on, the Cryo Archon isn't a country bumpkin like Raiden Ei.
Yuto and the two discussed for three days in Tenshukaku, and outside, the uncertain Inazuma officials were also anxious for three days. During this period, they tried various connections, but even the highly influential Tri-Commission heads could not guarantee their safety, or rather, they themselves might be ở precarious positions.
On the day the meeting was held, the sky above Narukami Island was clear, but the thunderstorm in the outer seas of Inazuma had already intensified to an incredible degree. Under such a thunderstorm, even Beidou's The Crux Fleet would probably meet its end there.
The purpose of this move, of course, was to prevent anyone from escaping Inazuma. However, some Inazuma officials who felt hopeless chose to take a gamble, but unfortunately, no one has successfully crossed the thunderstorm so far.
Soon, the residents of Inazuma City were surprised to find that many officials had suddenly gathered in the open space outside Tenshukaku. If you threw a stone out the window now, you would surely hit a high-ranking official you wouldn't even dare to imagine normally.
However, wasn't meeting the Shogun a glorious thing? Why were they all looking so grim? As if they were rushing to their own funerals.
The Inazuma officials very consciously divided into three columns according to their respective Commissions, led by Kamisato Ayato of the Yashiro Commission, Hiiragi Shinsuke of the Kanjou Commission, and Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission.
However, this time, Kamisato Ayato stood at the forefront in the middle, Hiiragi Shinsuke was to his left rear, and Kujou Sara was to his right rear.
Normally, among the Tri-Commission, the Tenryou Commission or the Kanjou Commission were always held in higher regard. After all, one commanded the military and the other managed finances, while the Yashiro Commission, which managed rituals and culture, clearly had a lower status than the other two. But now, the Yashiro Commission, by making the wise decision to stand up and set things right, had directly risen in standing.
This small change gave the officials of the Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission a sense of tragic empathy, especially those of the Tenryou Commission. Because, just where they stood, a head of the Kujou Clan had died a few days ago, which made their feelings complex as they looked at Kujou Sara standing at the very front.
In addition, there was a separate team in front of Tenshukaku, consisting of officials from Watatsumi Island led by Sangonomiya Kokomi, all of whom had also arrived.
Ever since Watatsumi Island received the full news, Kokomi felt that this matter might affect the future direction of Watatsumi Island and absolutely could not be absent. Therefore, she rushed to Narukami Island.
The hour had come, and the great doors of Tenshukaku finally opened again. Everyone's hearts sank, and they silently prayed for Narukami's blessing before entering in single file.
Raiden Shogun's Tenshukaku was not a place ordinary officials could enter at will. It was both the Shogun's office and the highest point in Inazuma City. Many officials had never even set foot on the steps leading up to the pavilion in their entire lives, yet they never expected that their first ascent to Tenshukaku would be with such complex feelings.
The moment the officials stepped inside, they immediately felt an immense mental pressure that made it hard to breathe. Some physically weak officials even knelt directly on the ground, struggling to get up, and quickly pleaded with the Raiden Shogun.
However, they only received a cold response, "Inazuma does not need such spineless officials. Those who cannot stand up will be dismissed and investigated!"
It was because of these words that the officials became even more terrified, but to keep their positions, they also erupted with unprecedented energy.
However, ultimately, six officials were truly unable to stand up. These six all had one thing in common: plump faces and large bellies, clearly corrupt officials who had enjoyed wealth and luxury. They were dragged away by the Okuzume outside the door like dead pigs for interrogation.
With these six officials as a lesson, all the officials knew that the Raiden Shogun's meeting was not going to be easy, but they could only resign themselves to fate.
Everyone lowered their heads and stood five meters from the Raiden Shogun's dais. Looking up, they saw the Raiden Shogun sitting in the main seat on the dais, lost in thought with her eyes closed. Behind her, her weapon, Engulfing Lightning, was neatly placed.
To the left and right of the Raiden Shogun, one person sat on each side. Sitting on the right was Guuji Yae of the Grand Narukami Shrine, and to everyone's surprise, sitting on the Shogun's left was a young man they were not familiar with.
???
Who is he? How dare he sit to the left of the Shogun? Even Guuji Yae could only sit to her right. On what grounds could this young man sit above Guuji Yae and below the Shogun?
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